Lady aged 103: shall we monkey?

Photo: Kristjan Teedema

Yesterday, Salme Toode turned 103. Around her, time seems to stand still.

Pot plants bloom on her window sill, just as the last time. The familiar needlework on the wall. The same laced table cloth as ever. Unchanged herself – sharp like the Salme at 100, 101 and 102.

Photographer requests to shoot a picture. «Shall we monkey?» quips the lady. Then, grabbing all of the flowers brought to her that day, wondering at the huge heap of these, she does do a smile – modestly, however.

Salme is not alone on her birthday. Here’s a distant relative Helgi Vardja, and her husband’s niece Ilme Söödi as well. The 70 years old son Mart being on his way. Then a friend from Salme Street will come. Some more, for sure. Never blessed with grandchildren, however.

On the serious side – other days tend to be lonely. «So what does one do, within these four walls?!» she says, a bit upset.

There is a change, still. A wheeled walker has appeared in Salme’s room, to help her move about. Makes steps steadier and assists in bringing food from the fridge.

«My hands won’t hold anything, anymore,» says Salme and launches into a lengthy speech on how her hands and feet ache at nights, her having to rub them with vodka – sometimes four-five times a night.

In Salme Toode’s words, she does feel 18 when flat on the bed. Trying to get up, however, she’s all of those 103 years – no denying.

«Oh to do some work, heat a chimney, be busy in the kitchen,» dreams Salme Toode. Her thoughts carrying her back to the Lootuse Street days in Karlova, her long-time Tartu home. Now, she lives on 8^th floor, in a huge Annelinn block of flats. And can’t go outside any more.

Still, she cooks her own food – potatoes-and-grits porridge was the last treat.